Chris Millington
Searching globally for a new C Level Position in F&B, Foodservice, Flavors, Speciality Ingredients, Nutrition
Global Experience Driving Performance & Cultural Transformation resulting in industry leading organic growth
Currently performing retained consulting contracts to various large PE funds as a Executive Adviser
+1 609 903 2450
crmillington18@gmail.com
Board Specializations
"Chris showed tremendous resilience to drive change and courage to challenge the business definition. He always led by example and was committed to execute the initiatives he proposed and to do so with fire and passion."
Retired Nestlé Senior Executive
Key Board Specialization
I have held ever-increasingly significant commercial function leadership positions, as well as managed the whole value chain from sourcing, creation, commercialization, industrialization, including supply chain, and have a close affinity to R&D and product technology, which has helped drive my thirst for knowledge and curiosity to allow business to unleash their full potential. I believe, through experience, that it is often in execution, alignment and agility where businesses fail to achieve their ambition and have focused on this during my career.
End-to-end talent management for me has always been a key priority, and I have led numerous multi-cultural global teams, plus engaged internal teams to support significant change and build strategies while being supported by 3rd party resources. I have proven several times that an owned and well-articulated strategy drives success and engagement. Great teams are at their best during major change and market volatility, the world we live in today.
Governance - My final key area of focus has been Governance as all organizations need clear ethics, code of practice and conduct, rigor and discipline in execution, and a functioning communication strategy, and driving empowerment through the organisation.
Board Committees Specialization
Strategy - Multiple experiences developing and executing strategy across multiple segments, channels, and geographies, from emerging to mature and with different internal and external stakeholder management. I have driven disruptive thinking, challenged and championed the need for change, and on many occasions, embraced risk and expanded the appetite for risk with full Board approval.
Innovation - A driven curiosity to develop robust and aligned insight-driven plans and solutions, and ensuring that common goals are shared, and that true insight is at the heart of both a balanced portfolio of long and short / medium term programs. I have experience in supporting clients who wish to outsource development and have worked with multiple partners over the years to develop an alternative model, resulting in higher levels of customer intimacy, and 100% success in core list exercises.
Organizational Sustainability - A natural challenger in style, but also a coach, to ensure leaders think big and challenge paradigms and the “invisible hand” mentality, which often paralyzes business. I have demonstrated the courage to lead significant change and have done so very early in my career. I respect tremendously different cultures having worked in many global roles and pride myself on having a high level of integrity. I believe all business must be learning, agile and consumer and customer focused organisation, capable of adapting to and leading change. I have led the redefinition of many businesses and helped expand the thinking to drive future growth and customer relevance.
Technology - I firmly believe that innovation must be something you lead and leverage. Throughout my career, I have demonstrated on many occasions using innovation and new thinking to drive differentiation; for examples, adapting early RFD technology to online commercial platforms, creating Nestle first e commerce platform outside of Nespresso, and working on technology partnerships from other industries to leverage existing technology into new channels, solutions and segments.
Ethics - I am a firm believer that the strength of a company lies in respecting ethics and having a strong code of conduct, not just from employees but also suppliers, customers, and working with official bodies. During challenging economic times, Ethics is an area which needs to be reinforced rather than flexed, as time passes and brands and reputations are rarely rebuilt.
Diversity - My career has been based on working in many multicultural teams. Having lived and worked in all main geographies, I have led teams across all competency areas in the value chain, developed new entities in emerging markets, been a mentor to high potentials, and sponsored the female “hi-po program” at Firmenich, hiring and promoting many females within the group including the first business unit leader, Innovation head, and regional business leaders. Diversity is at the heart of my beliefs, and I have found the experience highly enriching and rewarding both professionally and personally.